12 Mar 2026
H.E. Marcello Apicella, Ambassador of Italy to the Republic of Bulgaria, visited the Municipality of Stara Zagora today. He was accompanied by Nunziante Coraggio, President of Confindustria Bulgaria; Robert Santorelli, former President of Confindustria Bulgaria; Mariela Paneva, Public Relations Manager at Confindustria Bulgaria; and Lilia Krasteva, an interpreter with the Italian Embassy’s Trade Office.
The meeting was hosted by Radostin Tanev, Deputy Mayor responsible for Transport, Ecology, Investments and Green Transition, and Monika Mintova, Junior Expert in the Department of Investments, Energy Efficiency and Green Transition.
Deputy Mayor Radostin Tanev welcomed the delegation and thanked H.E. Marcello Apicella for the honour of visiting the Municipality of Stara Zagora. In his opening remarks, he described Stara Zagora as a city with thousands of years of history and a rapidly developing present. He highlighted the challenges facing the region, including the energy transition, infrastructure and connectivity, alongside its strengths: an industrial tradition, a strategic location, a skilled workforce and strong international investor interest.
“Precisely because Stara Zagora is a region in transition, our Department of Investments developed a regional development strategy together with the European Commission. You are aware of the changes anticipated for the Maritsa East complex. Although the latest signals from the European Commission have been mixed, we are carefully preparing for this process,” the Deputy Mayor stated.
Radostin Tanev emphasised the importance of retaining and developing the workforce and the potential of both the city and the region. He identified Italy as one of the key countries from which investment could be attracted.
H.E. Marcello Apicella thanked the hosts in return.
“I was very interested in visiting you and getting to know this ancient city, which also looks towards the future. History connects us, just as it does with other regions in Bulgaria. It is important to me that this visit takes place within the framework of Sistema Italia, which works very well. We organised the visit together with Confindustria Bulgaria, an important organisation that, in my view, provides tremendous support to the Italian Embassy,” the Ambassador said.
“Today, we have a series of meetings, including one with the Rector of Trakia University. We are interested in learning more about the university’s hydrogen project, which involves the Polytechnic University of Turin and our National Research Centre. We know that Stara Zagora has a well-developed agricultural sector. We also work successfully in this field and would like to share Italy’s achievements in agriculture.”
The Ambassador expressed interest in exploring how the Italian side could support projects of interest to the Municipality of Stara Zagora.
During the meeting, Monika Mintova, Junior Expert in the Department of Investments, Energy Efficiency and Green Transition, presented Stara Zagora’s advantages for investors.
These include access to international markets and Bulgaria’s corporate tax rate of 10%, one of the lowest in the European Union. Stara Zagora ranks fourth in GDP per capita. Its strategic location also provides access to important destinations across the country, with proximity to Plovdiv International Airport, Burgas Airport and the Port of Burgas.
The region has a strong education system and a focus on innovation, with 40 secondary schools, 19 vocational high schools, 36 vocational training centres and Trakia University.
The figures presented showed that 165,000 people are of working age and that 43% of the region’s residents work in industry. Only 2.2% of the population moves to other cities. A substantial number of employees work in processing industries, approximately 30,000 people, while 54,000 work in the manufacturing sector.
Stara Zagora is one of Bulgaria’s greenest cities. Its modernised public transport fleet currently includes 33 electric buses and eight hybrid trolleybuses. Through the European Just Transition Fund, Stara Zagora is set to receive EUR 1.2 billion, focusing on the development of new companies, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, investment in digitalisation and clean energy development.
The presentation also highlighted the city’s quality of life, including parks, sports facilities, cultural institutions such as the State Opera, museums and historical sites, the National Astronomical Observatory, and a variety of recreational opportunities for children.
Nunziante Coraggio, President of Confindustria Bulgaria, thanked the hosts for the opportunity to learn more about Stara Zagora and outlined the work of the organisation, which has been active in Bulgaria for 26 years. Confindustria is the largest employers’ association in Italy and Europe, with more than 150,000 members employing over five million people. Confindustria Bulgaria is also a founding member of Confindustria Eastern Europe.
He cited figures of EUR 2 billion in direct investment, EUR 3.58 billion in turnover and more than 30,000 jobs created. He noted that trade relations between Bulgaria and Italy remain strong, with Italy ranking as Bulgaria’s fourth-largest trading partner. According to the data he presented, bilateral trade reached EUR 6 billion in 2025. Direct investment amounted to EUR 338 million in 2025, an increase of 32% compared with 2024.
The President emphasised the importance of a well-developed workforce, constructive dialogue with institutions and, in particular, the green and digital transitions. He described Stara Zagora as a highly dynamic region.
He also noted that the delegation was familiar with Financial Times statistics placing Stara Zagora second among the regions attracting the most investment in Bulgaria. This creates numerous opportunities for development, including Zagore Industrial Zone in Elenino.
He added that Confindustria Bulgaria also seeks close cooperation with the university, which provides opportunities to develop technologies that businesses can subsequently adopt.
The discussions addressed the Municipality of Stara Zagora’s economic development priorities, opportunities for Italian companies arising from the region’s green transition, and the development of agriculture and related business opportunities.
Particular attention was given to the municipality’s strategy for innovation, entrepreneurship and digitalisation in the Stara Zagora region.
Deputy Mayor Radostin Tanev highlighted the municipality’s efforts to maintain economic stability and growth. Both sides expressed their willingness to pursue further cooperation in developing industrial zones and attracting skilled workers.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Deputy Mayor Radostin Tanev presented the Ambassador with a votive plaque depicting Dionysus, discovered by archaeologists during excavations near Stara Zagora.
